14) Justin Williams (Los Angeles Kings) An early return from an Achilles tendon injury by Williams was encouraging. Some extensive time off may have proved to be useful because the Cobourg native didn’t resemble the player he was in previous seasons. Williams posted 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 32 games with the Carolina…

The turning point in this year’s playoffs for the San Jose Sharks occurred on the last day of the regular season. The Sharks now know that was the day their playoff fate was sealed. When the St. Louis Blues defeated the Colorado Avalanche 1-0 in Game 82, it ended an improbable run that vaulted the…

Addressing reporters yesterday in an unnervingly calm tone of voice, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman—his hands, face, and white-collared shirt covered in blood—said that any obstacle standing in the way of both Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin playing in the Stanley Cup Final has been “taken care of.” “Sometimes you have to put the greater good…

Although it’s almost too much to take, listening to those insufferable Ducks announcers blathering on, especially when they’re reading the Sharks the Last Rites with six minutes to go in the game. I nearly forgot I was rooting for them to win.

3. Drew Doughty, D (LA) 6’1, 203 lbs. DOB: Dec. 8, 1989 Acquired: 1st round, 2nd overall in 2008 Although Doughty was unable to be the spark to lead the Los Angeles Kings into the playoffs, like Mason in Columbus and Ryan in Anaheim, his play for the rebuilding team was just as impressive. One…

David Shoalts has several league sources who are spilling the beans about the mess in Phoenix. It isn’t surprising that the NHL is leaking this information now, when interest in hockey – rather than the business of hockey – has peaked. Who wants to talk about the probable demise of the Phoenix Coyotes right now?…

A day after the Blues’ 3-0 loss to Vancouver, television highlights continued to focus on the postgame tirade of head coach Andy Murray on the team’s bench. Murray was incensed because after Vancouver scored its empty-net goal, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault put his physical fourth line of Darcy Hordichuk, Ryan Johnson and Rick Rypien on…

What of those clubs that didn’t make it to the Stanley Cup playoffs? Well, the Unfortunate Fourteen are always a mixed lot, and this year is certainly no different. Some want immediate change. Some ponder and puckhandle. A few, such as the Los Angeles Kings, managed expectations from the outset. LA is left hoping a…

Al Strachan suggested it was now “highly likely” Marian Gaborik will remain with the Minnesota Wild now that GM Doug Risebrough and head coach Jacques Lemaire are no longer with the team. Pierre LeBrun however isn’t so sure, having spoken with Gaborik’s Los Angeles-based agent Ron Salcer who said his camp will listen to anything Minnesota…

The main differences that the NHL has played up in explaining the lack of a suspension in this case is that it was a close game (so the resulting penalty mattered) and Cammalleri is a skilled player as Calgary’s top goal scorer this season. Cammalleri is not a goon. At 5’ 9” and 185 pounds…

It is one thing for a team to pony up $6-7 MM on a long term contract for a free agent, but its another to pay $13.5-$14 MM on a long term contract for two free agents. Particularly when everyone is running scared on league revenues and a falling salary cap. There aren’t that many…

1. NY Islanders: John Tavares; London – C – The no-brainer pick that will hopefully lead the Isles back to respectability. Expect big pressure to deal pick but they will keep it 2. Tampa Bay Lightning: Victor Hedman; Modo – LD – Another potential deal because Tampa needs and wants more immediate help but he is…

The BU captain isn’t eligible to join the Rangers on their current playoff run. He will attend the club’s late summer training camp with an eye on making their 2009-10 NHL roster. via Sources: New York Rangers sign Boston University’s Matt Gilroy to multiyear deal – ESPN.

Calgary loses, Cammalleri loses it. Double-plus good. San Jose loses. It would be nice if they could be swept. Anaheim wins. You can’t have everything. Ideally, they’ll crush the Sharks and then lose to Detroit.

Two Edmonton-based sportswriters in a cab heading to the morning skate prior to last night’s Stanley Cup playoff game here sent a text to MacTavish inquiring about the press conference the Oilers had called inquiring if he’d made his decision either way. “Yes,” MacT responded. “I just signed a long-term deal. See U at the…

Cammalleri … erred terribly when he drilled Blackhawks forward Martin Havlat in the head after a faceoff; Cammalleri almost certainly will (and definitely should) be suspended for the same swinging motion to the head that got Philadelphia’s Daniel Carcillo banned for Game 2 of the Flyers’ series against Pittsburgh. Cammalleri was playing his first NHL…

Sounds like Matt Gilroy is going to sign elsewhere. Word I am hearing is that Burke wouldn’t give Gilroy a 1 way deal and that other teams, including the Canucks where willing to give him a one way deal. Not over yet, but the fat lady is warming up. Similarly, sounds like Burke is in…

The best part of all is that he’ll have two buddies along for the ride. Stamkos, Schenn and Doughty have kept in close contact since becoming friends. “We’re texting each other all the time, a phone call here and there,” said Stamkos. “We got to spend a couple days at the Young Guns game in…

It’s no surprise that Johan Franzen is getting an 11-year, $43-million contract that runs until 2021 to spread out the cap hit ($1 million the final two, years when he’ll be 38 and 39 years old). Uh no, the cap hit is the same every year, dumba**. [UPDATE: oh, I see. The parenthetical refers not…